Pemex says new Mexico fields hold 2bln barrels of oil

2010-03-19T00:15:50Z

<div><p>Mexico's state-owned Pemex oil company said that the new oil fields it discovered two years ago in the Gulf of Mexico could yield more than two billion barrels of oil.</p><p>Pemex director Juan Jose Suarez said the Ayatzil-Tekel r...

Summary Box: Recovery on two tracks

2010-03-18T15:00:48Z

<div id="subtitle">Summary Box: Recovery proceeds on two tracks as wealthier consumers resume spending</div><div><p>A TALE OF TWO CONSUMERS: The economic recovery is proceeding at different speeds. Unemployment remains high. Yet a British automaker said Thursday it's betting on the super-rich, introducing a new $200,000 car for sale in North America.</p><p>OTHER SIGNS OF DIVIDE: Luxury retailers are see...

Obama to host Mexican President for state dinner

2010-03-18T14:16:32Z

<div><p>US President Barack Obama will host Mexican President Felipe Calderon for a state dinner in May, in recognition of their "deep ties and strong relationship," the White House said Thursday.</p><p>The second state dinner of Obama's presidency will take place on May 19, White House spokesma...

FBI, police raid gang in Texas after Mexico murders

2010-03-18T13:16:58Z

<div><p>FBI agents and police swooped Thursday on suspected members of a gang thought to be involved in the slaying of three people linked to the US consulate in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, an official said.</p><p>Some 200 fede...

Storms threaten butterflies' winter rest in Mexico

2010-03-18T09:45:45Z

<div><p>LOS SAUCOS, Mexico (Reuters) - Dense clouds of migrating monarch butterflies used to snap branches and cast shadows across the forests of central Mexico, but severe weather is posing a new threat to the annual phenomenon.</p><p>The yearly 2,000-mile journey, which takes four generations of butterflies to complete, starts in Mexico border crossing in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, Wednesday, March 17, 2010. The violence has risen to such levels in Ciudad Juarez that everyone feels at risk in the city of 1.3 million, where innocent people have been increasingly caught in the crossfire. (AP Photo/Miguel Tovar)

New North American avalanche danger scale unveiled

2010-03-17T17:15:28Z

<div><p>The Canadian government unveiled a new North American avalanche danger scale to warn backcountry skiers and others entering avalanche terrain of dangers.</p><p>The scale also provides the first international standard for the use of icons in avalanche warnings.</p><p>"This is the most comprehensive and complete avalanche warning system designed to date," Canadian Environment Minister Jim Prentice s...

US ambassador warns of more Mexico violence: reports

2010-03-17T16:16:10Z

<div><p>US ambassador to Mexico Carlos Pascual said Wednesday that Mexico's clampdown on drug traffickers could provoke more violence in the short term.</p><p>In comments to Mexican media days after deadly attacks on US citizens and their families in Ciudad Juarez, Pascual warned of a possible escalation of viole...

Kraft to cut salt in its North American foods

2010-03-17T16:00:54Z

<div><p>Kraft Foods Inc. said Wednesday that it will cut the salt in its products that are sold in North America by an average of 10 percent over the next two years to appeal to health-conscious consumers.</p><p>The changes at Kraft, the largest U.S. food maker, will affect more than 1,000 produ...

Wachovia pays 160 million dollars to halt drugs probe

2010-03-17T15:16:17Z

<div><p>Wachovia has agreed to pay US prosecutors 160 million dollars for its failure to stop drug money being laundered to Mexican affiliates, the DEA said Wednesday.</p><p>The embattled bank admitted it failed to stop an estimated 110 million dollars from being sent from the US to Mexico by wire transfer that was used to buy cocaine-transporting aircraft.</p><p...

New Gold says full operations to resume at Mexican mine

2010-03-17T14:45:30Z

<div><p>(Reuters) - Canadian gold miner New Gold said full operations will resume at its Cerro San Pedro mine in Mexico after a federal district court lifted restrictions on the use of explosives at the mine.</p><p>Operations at the mine were suspended in November last year after the country's environment ministry, acting on a federal court ruling, revoked the min...

Climate debated should be reframed: Malidives president

2010-03-17T09:18:33Z

<div><p>The climate change debate should be reframed in economic and security terms ahead of a year-end UN summit in Mexico seeking a binding climate deal, the president of the Maldives said Wednesday.</p><p>A price tag needs to be put on "the extent to which we destroy the atmosphere, the extent to which we pollute the at...

Norteno star denies knowledge of playing for gang

2010-03-17T08:31:35Z

<div id="subtitle">Latin Grammy winner detained during raid denies knowing he'd been hired for drug gang's party</div><div><p>Latin Grammy winner Ramon Ayala said the lights went out, people started running and he and his band hit the floor when the Mexican military raided a drug cartel's holiday party in December.</p><p>Speaking publicly...

Clean-up efforts pay off in Mexico City

2010-03-17T08:16:30Z

<div><p>Long famous as one of the world's most polluted megalopolises, gritty Mexico City is beginning to see the fruits of years of clean-up efforts and to breathe somewhat cleaner air, experts say.</p><p>"The pollution problem is still there, but it is a fact that we have been fighting pollution for more than 20 years and the improvement is undeniable," said Gus...

U.S. puts brakes on "virtual" border fence

2010-03-17T06:33:13Z

<div><p>PHOENIX (Reuters) - The U.S. government is pulling $50 million in funding from a problematic "virtual fence" meant to secure stretches of the Mexico border and is freezing additional funding for the project pending review, authorities said on Tuesday.</p><p>Mexico's government announces austerity plan to trim spending $3 billion over 3 years</div><div><p>Mexico's government has announced an austerity plan for trimming general spending $3.2 billion (40.1 billion pesos) over the next three years so it can provide more money for social and infrastructure programs.</p><p>The Finance Department says the plan includes a freeze on pay raises this year for hi...

Mexico calls on US to share drug war responsibility

2010-03-16T21:16:26Z

<div><p>President Felipe Calderon called for shared US responsibility in the fight against Mexico's drug gangs, after US consulate-linked killings in Ciudad Juarez.</p><p>Calderon was met with protests by hundreds of residents frustrated by almost daily attacks, extortion and kidnappings that plague Ciudad Juar...

Mexico-bound bus crashes in Texas, killing 2

2010-03-16T20:15:12Z

<div><p>A crowded bus carrying young families and spring breakers toward Mexico went careening off a Texas highway and flipped onto its side Tuesday, killing two people and forcing dozens of bloodied passengers to climb to safety through broken windows and an emergency exit.</p><p>The Americanos USA bus left

Why You Should Make Your Own Mexican Food

2010-03-17T01:00:03Z

What pops into your mind when you think of Mexican food? Probably the first thing you thought of was a taco, burrito, or enchilada. These dishes from Mexico are popular all over the world. They can also be made easily with a variety of ingredients. It does not matter if you have chicken, pork, beef, or seafood in your refrigerator... all of them will work for these familiar recipes.<br><br>Most everyone has made tacos at home, but how ma...

Group: Set aside section of Southwest for jaguars

2010-03-16T17:30:55Z

<div id="subtitle">Group wants Southwest land more than half the size of Calif. listed as critical jaguar habitat</div><div><p>Environmentalists are asking the federal government to set aside an area of the Southwest more than half the size of California to help protect the endangered jaguar.</p><p>The area proposed as critical habitat by the

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